From left, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, French President Emmanuel Macron, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz make a name to U.S. President Donald Trump from Kyiv, Ukraine on Saturday.
Mstyslav Chernov/AP
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Mstyslav Chernov/AP
KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday challenged Russia’s President Vladimir Putin to satisfy him personally in Turkey on Thursday, the most recent transfer in a weekend-long change of proposals from each side on the subsequent steps within the U.S.-led peace effort.
Zelenskyy stated that he nonetheless hopes for a ceasefire with Russia beginning Monday, and that he’ll “be ready for Putin” in Turkey “personally” after U.S. President Donald Trump insisted Ukraine settle for Russia’s newest supply — to carry direct talks in Turkey on Thursday. Ukraine, together with European allies, had demanded Russia settle for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire beginning Monday earlier than holding talks, however Moscow successfully rejected the proposal and referred to as for direct negotiations as an alternative.
It was not clear if Zelenskyy was conditioning his presence in Turkey on the Monday ceasefire holding, and there was no speedy remark from the Kremlin on whether or not Putin would go. In 2022, the warfare’s early months, Zelenskyy repeatedly referred to as for a private assembly with the Russian president however was rebuffed, and finally enacted a decree declaring that holding negotiations with Putin had grow to be unattainable.
“We await a full and lasting ceasefire, ranging from tomorrow, to supply the required foundation for diplomacy. There isn’t any level in prolonging the killings. And I shall be ready for Putin in (Turkey) on Thursday. Personally. I hope that this time the Russians won’t search for excuses,” Zelenskyy wrote on X on Sunday.
Trump stated in a social media publish earlier Sunday that Ukraine ought to comply with Putin’s peace talks proposal “IMMEDIATELY.”
“At the very least they may be capable to decide whether or not or not a deal is feasible, and if it isn’t, European leaders, and the U.S., will know the place all the pieces stands, and may proceed accordingly!” Trump wrote, including: “HAVE THE MEETING, NOW!!!”
Ukraine, allies insist on a ceasefire
French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk met with Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Saturday and issued a coordinated name for a 30-day truce beginning Monday. The plan has acquired backing from each the European Union and Trump.
The leaders pledged more durable sanctions on Russia if Putin didn’t settle for the proposal.
Putin in remarks to the media in a single day successfully rejected the supply and proposed restarting direct talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on Thursday as an alternative “with out preconditions.” He didn’t specify whether or not the talks on Thursday would contain Zelenskyy and himself personally.
He stated a ceasefire could be agreed on in the course of the negotiations — however pressured that the Kremlin wants a truce that might result in a “lasting peace” as an alternative of 1 that might permit Ukraine to rearm and mobilize extra males into its armed forces.
Zelenskyy stated on X on Sunday morning that it was a “optimistic signal that the Russians have lastly begun to contemplate ending the warfare,” however insisted on a ceasefire first.
Putin and Zelenskyy have solely met as soon as — in 2019. After repeated unsuccessful requires a private assembly with the Russian chief early on within the warfare, and following the Kremlin’s choice in September 2022 to illegally annex 4 areas of Ukraine, Zelenskyy enacted a decree declaring that holding negotiations with Putin had grow to be unattainable.
Macron stated Sunday that Putin’s supply of direct negotiations with Ukraine is “a primary step, however not sufficient,” signaling continued Western skepticism towards Moscow’s intentions.
“An unconditional ceasefire isn’t preceded by negotiations,” Macron informed reporters on the Polish-Ukrainian border, in response to French media, including that Putin is “on the lookout for a manner out, however he nonetheless desires to purchase time.”
Moscow presses on with peace talks supply. Turkey says it is able to host
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, in feedback aired by Russian state TV on Sunday, referred to as Putin’s proposal “very critical,” geared toward eliminating “the foundation causes of the battle,” and stated it “confirms an actual intention to discover a peaceable resolution.”
With out immediately mentioning Moscow’s proposal, Trump stated in a social media publish a number of hours after Putin’s in a single day remarks that it was “a doubtlessly nice day for Russia and Ukraine!”
“Consider the lots of of 1000’s of lives that shall be saved as this by no means ending ‘massacre’ hopefully involves an finish,” Trump wrote. “I’ll proceed to work with each side to guarantee that it occurs. The USA desires to focus, as an alternative, on Rebuilding and Commerce. A BIG week upcoming!” he added.
In one other publish on Sunday, the U.S. president stated Ukraine ought to settle for Putin’s supply “to satisfy on Thursday, in Turkey, to barter a attainable finish to the BLOODBATH.” He added, nevertheless, that he was “beginning to doubt that Ukraine will make a take care of Putin.”
Putin spoke Sunday to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who expressed readiness to host the talks, the Kremlin stated.
In response to the Kremlin’s readout of the telephone name, Erdogan “absolutely supported the Russian proposal” and was prepared to supply a platform for the talks and help in organizing them.
In a separate telephone name to Macron on Sunday, Erdogan stated {that a} “historic turning level” had been reached in efforts to finish the warfare, in response to a press release from the Turkish presidential communications workplace.
Questions over subsequent steps persist as assaults proceed
Zelenskyy in his nightly video deal with on Sunday stated he nonetheless anticipated a ceasefire to take maintain on Monday, and that he was nonetheless ready for a “clear reply” from Russia about it.
Zelenskyy stated he was additionally ready to see response from Western allies who on Saturday promised sturdy sanctions towards Russia if Putin didn’t abide by the Monday truce.
“We now have repeatedly heard from companions that they’re able to strengthen sanctions towards Russia if Putin refuses a ceasefire. We’ll see,” he stated.
He reiterated he could be current in Turkey on Thursday. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov didn’t instantly reply to a message from The Related Press asking for a remark.
In the meantime, Russia resumed mass drone assaults in Ukraine early on Sunday, after its self-declared three-day pause expired.
Russia launched 108 assault drones and simulator drones from six completely different instructions, Ukraine’s air drive stated. It stated 60 drones had been shot down and one other 41 simulator drones failed to achieve targets attributable to Ukrainian countermeasures.
The Russian Protection Ministry on Sunday accused Ukraine of “violating” Moscow’s three-day ceasefire greater than 14,000 occasions. Ukraine, which didn’t comply with the Might 8-10 ceasefire, has additionally accused Russia of violating its personal truce, with the Ukrainian overseas minister calling it a farce.
A Russian official on Sunday night additionally accused Ukrainian forces of a missile strike on a city in Russia’s Kursk area that borders Ukraine. Performing Gov. Alexander Khinshtein stated on Telegram that the strike “severely broken” a resort in Rylsk, a city east of the Ukrainian border, and wounded three individuals.
